Organize and Update: Late Summer Backyard Patio Refresh

In this post: Does your backyard patio need a refresh after a full summer? These ideas will take your patio through the rest of the outdoor season. ⇒

Do you remember that pristine patio you set up just a few months ago?

You know the one. It had freshly cleaned seat cushions, dirt free tables, brand new plants nestled in various sized planters.

You coordinated the colors, maybe bought a few updated throw pillows and the dining table was scrubbed for outdoor meals.

You were excited about the coming season with your magazine-ready patio, and you couldn’t wait to entertain there.

So…

does it still look like that?

If you’re anything like me and you’ve been enjoying your outdoor area, as well you should, maybe it’s not quite so ready for publication.

The few plants I haven’t killed yet are looking kind of skimpy, the pillows are tossed on the floor more often than not, there’s often a couple of towels that we’ve neglected to bring inside, and there are more petals and leaves on the tables than are left on the plants.

Backyard Patio Refresh

We love to use our patio well into the fall and right about now it could really use a late summer refresh. (Ok, truth be told, I do this several times throughout the summer… ;-)).

Here are 5 things to do now to update your summer patio and prepare it for fall.

1. Assess the Furniture and Buy On Sale for Next Year

There’s no better time to take stock of your outdoor furniture than now!

You’ve been using it for months and it’s clear in your mind what’s been working and what needs an update.

Could you use an extra little table or a bar to store and serve drinks? Does the coffee table need replacing or is the rug on its last year? Should you finally get that umbrella that you’ve been meaning to get for two years?

Now is the time to find sales on outdoor furniture and it’s the perfect time to fine tune for the coming seasons.

2. Pare Back and Replace Straggly or Dead Plants

I hope you’re all better with plants than I am. I’ve already replaced them several times!

But even the best gardeners sometimes need to refresh potted plants that didn’t make it through the entire summer. Or maybe you just want to add vivid summer color that seemed too vibrant at the beginning of the season.

Like decor, plants are also on sale this time of year and a visit to the nursery can yield a rejuvenating punch of color for your patio.

3. Refresh Accent Decor with a New Color Scheme

Perhaps before you decide on which plants to fill in with, or as a result of restyling your existing floral palette, freshening up your decorating color scheme is a great way to infuse your patio with new life.

Assuming your furniture is neutral in color, start by reviewing your decorative accents like pillows, throws and flower pots to see what you can change for a fresh look. Think ahead to fall and consider spicier tones, or just brighten the ones you already have.

If you started the season with soft pink or lilac, try richer hues like fuchsia, burg or plum. Have tranquil blues or greens? Add mango pops.

I keep a pillow closet in the basement with a selection of outdoor cushions to swap out when I get bored. Match up your decorative accents with any plants you’ve added for a fun new look well into the season.

4. Plan and Schedule Repairs

When we’re in the thick of entertaining or just enjoying our outdoor spaces, needed repairs can begin to pile up.

End of summer is a great time to schedule upcoming repairs. Have the stone path fixed in the ensuing weeks, when the mason’s prices have dipped after the spring rush. Likewise for carpentry, deck washing or similar outdoor jobs.

There will be less competition for available dates when everyone else is thinking about cleaning up for the winter.

5. Clean Out Storage Areas

And speaking about clean-up with the winter in mind, take some time to tidy up your storage areas that might have become overrun with extraneous items while the outdoor furniture was sitting on the deck.

You still want time to enjoy your outdoor spaces, but if you pulled out everything in a big rush at the beginning of the season, the slow pace of summer is a golden opportunity to organize at a leisurely rate.

Make room for anything new that will need to be stored, while making arrangements to clear out what you no longer need or want.

It will make end-of-season cleanup so much easier, when you’ll be in the midst of planning for the busy seasons ahead.

A few more ideas

• Add an umbrella if you don’t have one
• Buy a fire pit or heat lamp on sale
• Re-stock the wine fridge
• Keep a selection of throw blankets at the ready
• Make sure lighting is in working order

If you’ve been relaxing and enjoying your patio this summer, chances are it needs some of this refreshing by now.

With a few updates and some planning for the future, you should be able to extend the outdoor entertaining season well into the fall and bring it back even better next year!